West Salem man arrested for assaulting girlfriend in car

WOOSTER — A West Salem man remains in jail after he reportedly assaulted his girlfriend while they were driving back to his home after a trip to Chippewa Lake.

Timothy Lee Nicholson, 39, 7587 Ruff Road, has been charged with felony domestic violence in Wayne County Municipal Court; the elevated charge came into effect due to prior domestic violence convictions, including a 2016 Wayne County case.

He remains in jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13 in front of Judge Carol White Millhoan.

Capt. Doug Hunter said Wayne County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted after the alleged incident took place by the woman who claimed while Nicholson was driving them home a verbal argument turned physical when he grabbed her arm, pinched her and then threatened to kill her.

Court records indicate he pulled her hair and tried to get her phone from her and the incident occurred while driving near Creston towards Nicholson’s home in Congress Township.

Hunter said the altercation apparently started as a verbal argument when Nicholson wanted the woman’s phone. After she refused to give her phone up, he also made alleged threats to kill the woman. The woman, according to the court affidavit, also claimed she told Nicholson several times to stop the car and let her out, but he refused.

He was believed to be intoxicated, as reported by the victim to authorities, and was noted by the responding deputy.

Hunter added that Nicholson told deputies he was on probation, but didn’t know his probation officer’s name. He said Nicholson denied the accusations.

Reporter Steven F. Huszai can be reached at 330-287-1645 or shuszai@the-daily-record.com. He is @GeneralSmithie on Twitter.